Mechanism for cutting and looping springs



Jan. 6, 1942. c. G. HICKS MEGI'IANISM FOR CUTTING AND LOOPING SPRINGSFiled July 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 *nl E @fp-mm1 I. f

l Carl 6'. HJ/'OAS f//s Arfofevg/ C. G. HICKS Jan. 6, 19u42.

MECIIANISIVI.4 FOR CUTTING AND LOOPING SPRINGS Filed July 25, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll .6 A- `1lllllilllllllllll Jf'lllllllllllll /lllllllllllllli n'lllllllllli@IIIIINIHNNI fa I p0 52 257.95 lllllllllllllllll Psa-med Jan. e, 1942RSSUED UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE MEcnANTsM Foa CUTTING AND LoorING asraINes y Carl G. Hicks, Chicago, Ill. Application July 25, 1941, SerialNo. 403,934

(Cl. 14o-103) Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for cutting and looping springelements and has for its principal object the provision of a simplemechanism which is` economical in manufacture and highly eilicient inuse.

It is another object of this invention to provide an automatic machinewhich will operate to coil straight wire into a spring unit, abate suchoperation while the coil spring is cut into lengths,

`and resume said operation and simultaneously therewith convey thesevered length away from the machine.

Another object of my invention is the proends of the spring unit afterthe cutting operation' to permit the convolution of the spring adjacentthe severed ends to be bent out tov provide loop formations at the endof the spring unit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide'a novel meansfor clamping the severed portion of the spring unit in the movable diemember during the cutting and forming operation, so that the severedspring unit will be held during the cutting operation and thereafter'willl be movable with the movable die member for the forming operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means forreleasably holding the clamping means for the severed spring unit out ofclamping position until the spring unitto be acted upon is fed into thedesired position with respect to the cutting and forming unit and thelatter operated for the purpose of severing the spring unit.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision ofnovel means for automatically recoupling the releasable holding meansfor the spring clamping device with the latter when the cutting andforming unit is withdrawn from operative position back toward normalcondition.

Other objects, advantages and novel aspects of my invention will appearmore fully as the device is described in conjunction with the drawings,in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cutting and forming unitshowing the several parts therein illustrated in normal position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional .detail view through the cutting andforming unit and is taken substantially along line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional detail view substantially like Fig. 3 butslightly reduced in scale with respect thereto, and illustrating thepartsv thereof in cutting and forming position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the nrst step inthe cutting operation;

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary perspective view, complementary to Fig. 5,rillustrating the shearing operation;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the forming dies illustrating thegradual steps in the loop forming operation;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a crimping die adapted to cooperate withthe forming die of Fig. 7;

Figs. 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e and 9f are illustrative of the principal stepsin the cutting and forming operation, showing a spring unit in thevarious stages from start to finish; and

Fig. l0 is a foreshortened perspective View ofafinished spring showingthe two ends thereof looped for use.

The general arrangement is best disclosed in Fig. 2 ofthe drawings,wherein Il) indicates a bed plate or table which forms the substructureof the entire machine. Mounted on the bed plate I0 is a wire coilingunit II having conventional gearing (not shown) adapted to be driventhrough shaft I2 in turn drivingly connected with a pulley I3 having abelt. drive, I4 operatively trained over a like pulley associated withany suitable drive shaft or source of motion.

The Wire coiling unit II has the usual feed rollers I5 into whichstraight wire I6 is fed and by which such wire is forced into a coilingdie I1 whence there is emitted a finished spring S in a direction atright angles to the line of feed of the wire I6.

A cutting and forming unit generally indicated at I8 is mounted on thetable I0 adjacent the wire coiling unit I I. This unit I8 comprises inthe main a stationary block I9 from which extends a pair of rails 20grooved as at 2I to provide a guide for a movable block 22. A stationaryframe 23vhaving a pair of vertically disposed leg elements 24 fixed tothe table` I0 as'at 25 straddles the rails20 at the line of juncture ofthe two blocks I9 and 22. Between the legs` 2l there is arranged forslidable movement a carriage 26 which carriage 26 has disposedzthereon,

among other things, a guide element 21 the lower end 28'of which isnormally disposed between the abutting ends of the block elements I9 and22.

The block I9 is disposed nearest the coiling unit Il and forms anabutment for the movable block 22 which is normally urged toward blockI9 by a helical spring means 29. The spring 29 is arranged on a rod 38one end of which is reduced to seat into a recess formation 3| in block22, the opposite lend of which rod 38 is disposed for sliding movementin a sleeve 32 formed in an adjustable screw anchor 33. The anchor 33 isthreadably supported in a cross beam 34 canied at its ends on a pair ofparallelly arranged strut bars 35 extending horizontally from the legelements 24 adjacent the rails 28. The arrangement is such that thecompression force of the helical spring 29 may be varied by adjustingthe screw anchor 33 to position the anchor 33 nearer to the block 22,thus increasing the force against the block 22 or to withdraw the screwanchor 33 to relieve the spring pressure on the block 22.

'I'he abutting faces of the two blocks I9 and 22, heretofore referredto, are provided with tooled die units 36 and 31 respectively, forreasons hereinafter to be explained. Each of the blocks I9 and 22 hasformed therein a guideway 38 for the passage of the coil spring Sproduced on the wire coiling unit II, and these guideways 38 are inaxial alignment with the spring S as it emerges from the coiling die i1such that the normal operation of the coiling unit will automaticallyfeed the finished spring S into and through the guideways 38 until thedesired length of spring has passed beyond 'the die units 36-31L Theceiling unit I I will be shut off to stop the feeding of the spring S,by and through the medium of a shut-off lever 39 operatively connectedwith the unit and linked for operation to the main control lever 40 by arod 4|, such that when, the lever 40, which is normally latched inraised position, is released for downward rotative movement about itspivotal connection at 42 on the frame 23,-the rod 4| will be depressedto operate the normally open shut-oil? 1'ever39 to stop the operation ofthe wire coiling unit until the lever 40 again resumes normal position.

The main control lever 40 is latched 'in raised I9 is arranged betweenthe jaw 55 and the plate 58 upon a rod 88 which is fixed to and extendsupwardly from the jaw and has its lower end flared out as at 6| toprovide a seat for the lower end of the spring 59; the upper end of therod 68 extending through a passage 62 formed in the plate I8 to supportthe spring and rod in vertical position and to guide the movement of itsheaded end 63 which carries a pair of locked nuts 64 whereby the headedend 63 is normally but releasably latched in a yoke formation formed inthe end of a stud 65 extending vertically from the carriage 26 formovement therewith.

By the foregoingarrangement of parts there is provided a means forclamping spring elements S within the movable block 22. 'I'he clampingjaw 55 is normally out of'clamping relationship with spring elementsdisposed within block 22 but having an immediate clamping action uponsuch spring elements when the lever 48 is depressed as aforesaid and thecarriage 26 descends to thereby release the yoke 65 from its hold on thespring-urged rod 68 and the clamping jaw connected thereto.

From the disclosure oi? Fig. 2, it is made apparent that the frame 23 isdisposed at an angle to the axis of the coil spring S, which angleplaces the-frame and `its associated parts in a 'plane parallel to thepitch on the coils of the spring S. Asl vhereinbefore stated, thecarriage 26 has arranged thereon a. guide element 21 the lower end 28 ofwhich is disposed between the abutting ends of the blocks I9 and 22.Referring to Fig. 5, it will be noted that the guide element 21isadapted to move up and down with one (left-hand) edge 49 thereofimmediately adjacent the spring S as it passes through the guideways 38and that there extends from such edge 49 a laterally extending andprojecting nger 58, the lower end 5| of which is ground to a keen` edge.This 'edge 5| is so disposed as to provide an inverted U-shapd trough Uadapted to ride upon the spring S and to provide a shearing edge C atthe bight of the trough U. The edge 5| is arranged such that upondescent of the carriage 23 the edge 5| will act as a Wedge to spread theconvolutions of the spring S, thus clearing the way for the shearing orcutting edge position by a latch 43 slidably arranged on lever 40 'andnormally urged by a spring-operated palm grip 44 toward and into a notch45 formed on a pair of arms 46 pivotally supported on the frame 23 andlying against rollers 41 on lever 48 to hold the arms 46 in position toreceive the latch 43. A link 48' connects the main control lever 48 tothe vertically movable carriage 26 such that upon release of the latch43 from notch 45 the depression of lever 48 will likewise depress thecarriage 26. 'I'he movable block 22 has its center portion 53 raisedslightly above the uppermost surface of the rails 28, and in this raisedportion 53 there is cut a slot 54 clear through to the guideway 38 inblock 22. There is disposed in the slot 54 for vertical movementrelative thereto a clamping jaw 55, the lower end 56 of which is formedto bear down against the coil spring S passingA through the guideway 38to hold the spring S in vise-like fashion in the shifting block 22 forreasons hereinafter to become apparent.

A pair of vertically disposed studs 51 have support on and extendupwardly from the block 53 and bridging'the upper ends of these studs 51is a plate 58 having its central portion directly above the movable Jaw55. A compression spring C which coacts with the lower rim R of th'eguideway 38 on the die 31 on the movable block 22 (Fig. 6) to effect ashearing action on the wire element I6', thus severing the sanfe at suchshearing point and leaving a'free spring unit 52 to the right of thevframe 23 within the movable block 22, any shavings or lings by reason oithe cutting operation falling straight down Vthrough an opening in thebed plate I8; it being noted that during this shearing operation suchfree end of the coil spring S isheld by the clamping jaw 55 within theblock 22. I

Immediately above the plane of the cutting edge C in vertical alignmentwith the guide element 21 is a cam formation 61 whichvis movable withthe guide 21 and carriage 26 for engagement with a beveled edge 68 onthe die 31 carried by the movable block 22. As seen in Fig. 3, thedownward movement of this cam 61 will urge the block 22 and all partscarried thereby to the right including the spring unit 52 now severedfrom the main unit S, thereby spreading the several ends of these nowindividual units preparatory to the forming'loperation now to beexblocks I9 and 22 respectively are set back from the line of abuttingrelation with the guide element 21, just adjacent the edge 49 thereof soas to provide a path ofmovement for a pair of forming dies 69 and 10.Each of these forming dies 69 and 10 is flxed upon the verticallymovable carriage 26 for movement therewith and are so disposed as tomove in the path provided between the setbacks provided in the dies36--31. These dies 69and 18 are alikev in structure inasmuch as each ofthem is provided with a series of forming cams facing in the directionof the severed ends of the spring units S and 52. In this regard,reference is made to Fig. 'I wherein die 16 is shown as having a leadingedge 1| adapted to bear against the side wall of the spring 52 to keepthe latter. in abutting relation with the inner side wall o f theguideway 38. A forming edge 12 extends slightly beyond the edge 1I andhas its lowermost edge 13 wedge-shaped so as to pivot the two outsideconvolutions L in a direction away from the main body (S or 52) of thespring members acted upon (see Fig. 9d).

A second forming edge 14, having its lower edge 15 on an acute angle, isadapted to further swing the already pivoted end convolution L into theposition shown in Fig. 9e.

The nal forming operation by the die 69 or 10 is adapted to be performedconcurrently with a crimping or bending operation -by cam elements 1980which are associated with the cams 69--18 respectively. This naloperation will best be understood in the light of Figs. '1 and 8 takentogether, wherein the cam 18 is substantially in its plane of horizontalalignment with the cam 80 (and 19), which cam is formed on that side 8lof the cam block 61 facing the sheared ends of the several springs S and52.

The cam 18 (also 69) has a forming edge 16, in addition to those alreadymentioned, which forming edge 16 has an arcuated lower edge 11 with asweeping rise to an extreme extending edge 18 thereof. The arrangementis such that the crimping cam 88 engages the loop L atits point ofconnection with the main body of the spring 52 and simultaneouslytherewith the forming edge 16 of the forming die 10 engages theextending loop L approximately at its mid portion (Fig.9f). As theextreme edges 18 and 80- of the two coacting cams come into engagementwith the loop L, a positive bend or crimp will be effected in the wireelement connection between the loop L and the spring 52.

It will be apparent'that the foregoing description of structure andoperation pertaining to the forming cam 10 and the crimping cam 80 isequally applicable to the forming cam 69 and crimping cam 19 (Figs 9d,9e, and 91") and that in the forming and crimping operation the shearedends of each of the spring units S and 52 are looped as explained. Byreason of this simultaneous looping operation, the leading end I6' atthe, point of of the spring unit S 1s prepared first and thek trailingend of such unit S, after it has been severed into an individual springunit 52, is su-b-` sequently formed to provide'a like loop, thus leavinga completed spring 52 (as shown in Fig. l0) clamped within the block 22.

of the block 22 having shifted to the right, as seen in Fig. 4, thespring and rod assembly 59-60 l 26 and its associated parts. It will benoted that by reason of the clamping jaw 55 is out of vertical alignmentwith the latching yoke 65 and that the stud 66 and yoke 65 will ascendwith the carriage 26 beyond the horizontal plane of the headed end 63 onthe rod 68 before there is a positive coupling. For this reason there isprovided a novel coupling means whichwill operate automatically duringthe return movement of the main control lever 48. f

The coupling means, best illustrated in Fig. 1, is generally indicatedat 62 and comprises 'a swinging support in the form of a lever 83pivotally arranged as at 84 on a laterally `extending stud 85 in turncarried by the frame 23 to provide a xed pivot. TheA opposite end of thelever 83 is pivotally connected as at 86 to the lower end of a linkl 81,the upper end of which link has pivotal connection as at 86 to one endof a stud 89 which is attached to and carried by the lever 40 at a pointspaced from its fulcrum 42 so that the stud 89 will be movable with thelever 48 to impart a swinging motion to the swinging support or lever83. The main coupling tool is arranged on the swinging support 83 midwayof its ends by suspending a vertically disposed base plate 98 frornthelever 83, the plate 98 having a loose pin connection 9| with such lever83'. The lower end 92 of plate, 98 is provided with a trunnion whereinthere isy arranged on a horizontal axis 93 an upwardly extendingcoupling finger 94 having a forked upper end 95 bent outwardly in adirection away from the plate 90. This nger 94 is normally held inparallelism with respect to the plate 90 by providing the nger 94 witha.

headed pin 96 carried by the finger 94 and extending through an openingor slot 91 formed in the plate 90, there being a headed portion 98 onthis pin 96 and a spring 99 arranged between the head 98 and the plate90.

When the carriage 26 is lowered as hereinbefore explained, the couplingmeans is vlikewise lowered a proportionate amount 'and assumes aposition relative to the rod `60 of the spring clamping means as isshown in Fig. 4. As the lever 40 is raised to return the same to normalposition as seen in Fig. 1, the forked finger -94 will be raisedsimultaneously therewith so that the fork 95 will engage beneath the nutelements 64 on the headed end 63 of the rod 68itbeing clearly shown thatsuch engagement will take place before the cam 61 releases the block 22for return movement. Upon subsequent ascension of the carriage 26 thecam 61 will gradually release the base for movement toward the left byits spring 29, such continued ascension at the same time causing thefinger 94 to impart a lifting action on the headed rod 60, therebyraising the jaw 55 out of engagement with the spring unit 52 to releaselthe latter for continued4 movement through the guideway 38.

' As the block 22 moves to the left, the finger 94 is free to swing inav counterclockwise direction about the axis 93 and by reason thereofthe finger 94 will continuev to raise the headed end63 of the rod 60`concurrently with the ascension of the yoke 65. The lower end of the'yoke formation 65 is provided with a cam surface4 |00 against which theyoke fingers 95 will bear so that as the lever 40, carriage 28, andvcoupling unit reach their extreme uppermost position, the yoke 95 will be cammed back'y toward the plate 98.

j When the fork 95 has been sufficiently cammed away from the yoke 65,the latter will become positioned under the head nuts 64 and when thetension or frictional bearing between the fork ss and the head nuts s4is relieved the springen will snap the finger 94 back to verticalcondition.

It will be noted that upon the return movement of the carriage 26, thelaterally extending finger 50 will again engage the springA S. In ordernot to distort the completed or looped end L of thel remaining springunit S, there is formed in the stationary block I9 a flared opening I |0(Fig. 5) and the nger 50 is provided with an obliquely disposed topsurface |II. When the carriage 26 is raised as aforesaid, the surface|I| of the projection 50 will bear against the nished end of the springS and the latter will be flexed into the flared portion I I of theguideway 38, thereby permitting a by-pass for the finger 50. When thefinger 50 has resumed its normally raised position, the spring S will byits own resiliency return into axial alignment with the main hodythereof. 'I'he lever 40 will by that time have reached its fully raisedposition where it will again be latched by bolt 43 and notch 45, and bythe same token the rod 4| will have been lifted to raise the shut-offlever 39 on the wire coiling unit Il, whereupon the wire I6 will againbe drawn through the feeding rollers I 5 and another section of coilspring S emitted from the ceiling die Il. Such additional length ofspring S will be fed into the guideways 38 in the blocks I9 and 22 ashereinbefore explained, the completed unit 52 having Apreviously beendrawn to the right, beyond the block 21 into a conveyor tray |0|positioned on the cross beam 34. 'I'he tray I 0| is adapted to receiveand guide completed springs toward a pair of extracting rollers |02 and|03, the uppermost one |02 of which is drivingly connected to a shaft|04 journaled in bearing blocks |05. The shaft |04 is connected by bevelgears |06 to a drive shaft |01 having power connection through belt andpulley |06 with the main drive shaft I2. Spring units 52 extractedthrough the rollers I 02|03 are fed into an inclined chute |09 forconveyance into a suitable receptacle (not shown). The vrollers |02|03are provided with a tensioner adjustment (Fig. l) for setting thepulling action of 'the rollers. By this arrangement completed springshave their free end extended into the rollers I02-I03 which slippinglyride over such free end until clamping jaw 55 is released, whereupon therollers I02|03 eect a withdrawal of the spring .'52.v

While I have illustrated and described the'prefen-ed form ofconstruction for carrying my in vention into eilfect,` this is capableof variation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise detailsof construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims. y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new'vand desire toprotect by Letters Patent is: Y

l. In a device of the class described, a fixed bed and a movable bed,means normally urging the movable bed toward the xed bed, said two bedmeans providing a path of movement for a spring unit to be acted upon, amovable carriage arranged above said two beds and havinga shear portionthereof disposed between said beds for shearing said spring unit intoseparate body portions, cam means on said carriage for moving saidmovable bed away from said xed bed for separating the severed ends ofsaid sheared spring, means on said carriage flexing the two lastconvolutions of said severed ends in a direction away from'the bodyportion of the respective spring, a complementary means for crimpingsaid last two convolutions at right angle to the body of the spring, andmeans for moving said carriage with respect to the two bed means for thepurpose aforesaid.-

2. In a device of the class described, a ilxed bed and a movable bed,means -normally urging the movable bed toward Vthe fixed bed, said twobed means providing a pathof movement for a spring unit to be actedupon, a movable carriage arranged above said two beds and having a shearportion thereof disposed between said beds for shearing said spring unitinto separate body portions, cam means on said carriage for moving saidmovable bed away from said fixed bed for separating the severed ends ofsaid sheared spring, means on said movable bed for clampingly engagingsaid spring unit when the movable bed is shifted as aforesaid, means onsaid carriage flexing the two last convolutions of said severed ends ina direction away from the body portion of the respective spring, acomplementary means for crimping said last two convolutions at rightangle to the body of the spring, and means for moving said carriage withrespect to the two bed` means for the purpose aforesaid.

3. In a device of the class described, a fixed bed and a movable bed,means normally urging the movablel bed toward the fixed bed, said twobed means providing a path of movement for a spring unit to be actedupon, means for feeding a spring unitV along said path of movement, amovable carriage arranged above said two beds and having a shear portionthereof disposed between said beds for shearing said spring unit intoseparate body portions, cam means on said carriage for moving saidmovable bed away from said fixed bed for separating the severed ends ofsaid sheared spring, means on said carriage nexing the two lastconvolutions of said severed ends in adirection away from the bodyportion of the respective spring, a complementary means for crimpingsaid la-st two convolutions at right angle to the body of the spring,and means for moving' said carriage with respect to the two bed meansfor the purpose aforesaid, and for automatically stopping said means forfeeding the spring unit along said aforementioned path of movementduring `the shearing and forming operation.

4. In a device of the class described, a fixed bed anda movable bed,means normally urging the movable bed toward the fixed bed, said two bedmeans providing a path of movement for a spring unit to be acted upon,means for'feeding a spring unit along said path of movement, a movablecarriage arranged above said two beds and having a shear portion thereofdisposed between said beds for shearing said spring uni-I; into separatebody portions, cam means on said car-` riage for moving said movable bedaway from said xed bed for separating the severed ends of said shearedspring, means on said carriage flexing the two last convolutions of saidsevered ends in a. direction away from the body portion of therespective spring, a complementary means for crimping said last twoconvolutions at right angle to the bcdy of the spring, means for movingsaid carriage with respect to the two bed means for the purposeaforesaid and for automatically stop.- ping said means for feeding thespring unit along said aforementioned path of movement during theshearing and forming operation, and automatic means for drawing thesevered portion of said spring unit vaway from said movable bed when thelatter is permitted to return to normal position.

5. In a device for cutting and forming looped ends on springs, astationary die, a movable die, means normally urging the latter towardthe former, said dies providing a path of movement for a spring to beacted upon, means forcutting said spring into two pieces and forforminga loop at the severed ends of the respective pieces, said meanscomprising a carriage arranged for vertical movement, a shear on saidcarriage and having a portion thereof disposed between said dies andincluding a cam means for effecting movement of said movable die, aflexing cam on said carriage and adapted to flex the last two convolutedloops of the aforementioned severed ends of the spring at right anglesto the direction of twist of the spring, and a complementary bending camelement adapted to engage said two convoluted loops in the region oftheir point of connection with the main body of the spring to crimp saidpoint of connection thereby/to maintain said loops at right angles tothe spring as aforesaid, and means for effecting movement of thecarriage for the purpose aforesaid.

6. In a device of the class described including a xed guideway and amovable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding aspring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together withcutting and forming 1 means arranged for vertical movement between saidfixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose ofsevering said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on thesevered ends of said spring, the combination of means on said movableguideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold the latterduring the forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guideformation in said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged toreciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unitin said movable guideway, and means connecting said movable jaw withsaid cutting and forming means for movement therewith.

'7. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and amovable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding aspring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together withcutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between saidxed and movableguideways and adapted to descend for the purpose ofsevering said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on thesevered ends of said spring, the combination of means on said movableguideway for gripping said length'` of spring unit to hold the latterduring the forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guideformation in said movable guideway, a movable jaw arranged toreciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the spring unitin said movable guideway, means normally urging said movable jaw towardsaid spring unii-I to clamp the latter in vise-like action in saidguideway, means on said cutting and forming means for releasably holdingsaid movable jaw out of said normal position and adapted to release themovable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid,and means for recoupling said movable jaw with said cutting and formingmeans when the latter ascends toward normal position.

8. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and amovable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding aspring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together withcutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between saidfixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purposel ofsevering said spring unit into ydesired lengths and to form loops on thesevered ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on saidmovable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold thelatter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said meansincluding a guide formation on said movable guideway, a movable jawarranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from thespring unit, means on sa'id cutting and forming means for releasablyholding said movable jaw in raised position and for releasing saidmovable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated'as aforesaid.

9. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and amovable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding aspring'unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together withcutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between saidfixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose ofsevering said spring` toward and away fromthe spring unit, means on saidcutting and forming means for releasably holding said movable jaw inraised position and for releasing said movable jaw when the cutting andforming means is operated as aforesaid, and coupling means operativelyconnected to said cutting and forming means and adapted to couple saidmovable jaw with said cutting and forming means when the latter isreturned to a nory mal position.

10. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and amovable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding aspring unit along said xed and movable guideways, together with cuttingand forming means arranged for vertical movement between said fixed andmovable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severingsaid spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops von the severedends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on said movableguideway for gripping said length of spring unit Vto hold the latterduring the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means includinga guide formation on said movable guideway, clamping means arranged toreciprocate in said guide formation.`

Y means arranged for vertical movement between said xed and movableguideways and adapted to descend for the purpose of severing said springunit into desired lengths and to form loops on the severed' ends of saidspring lengths, the combination of means on said movable guideway forgripping said length of spring unit to hold the latter during lthecutting and forming operation aforesaid, said means including a guideformation on said movable guideway, clamping means arranged toreciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from the springunit, means onl ing a spring unit along said fixed and movableguideways, together with cutting and forming means arranged for verticalmovement between said fixed and movable guideways and adapted to descendfor the purpose of severing said spring unit into desired lengths and toform loops on the severed ends of said spring lengths, the combinationof means on said movable guideway for gripping said length of springunit to hold the latter during the cutting and forming operationaforesaid, said means including a guide formation on said movableguideway, a movable jaw arranged to reciprocatein said guideformationtoward and away from the spring unit, means on saidcutting and formingmeans for releasably holding said movable jaw in raised position and forreleasing said movable jaw when the cutting and forming means isoperated as aforesaid, and coupling means Aoperatively connected to saidcutting and forming means and adapted to couple said gripping means withsaid cutting and forming means when the latter is returned to a normalposition. y

13. In a device of the class described including a xed guideway and amovable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding aspring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together withcutting and forming' means arranged for vertical movement between saidfixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose ofsevering said spring latter during the cutting andforming operationaforesaid,I said means including a guide formation on said movableguideway, a` movable jaw arranged to reciprocate in said guide formationtoward and away from the spring unit, means on said cutting and formingmeans for releasably,

holding said movable jaw in raised position and` for releasing saidmovable jaw when the cutting and forming means is operated as aforesaid,coupling means operatively connected to said cutting and forming meansand adapted to couple said movable jaw lwith said cutting and formingmeans when the latter is returned to a normal position, and meansfrictlonally engaging said severed spring unit for withdrawing the samefrom said movable guideway.

14. In a device of the class described including a fixed guideway and amovable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding aspring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together Awithcutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between saidiixed and movable guideways and adapted to descend for the purpose ofsevering said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on thesevered ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on saidmovable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold thelatter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said meansincluding a guideformation on said movable guideway, clamping meansarranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from thespring unit, means on said cutting and forming means for releasablyholding said clamping means in raised position and vfor releasing saidclamping means when the cutting and forming means is operated asaforesaid, and means frictionally engaging said severed i spring unitfor withdrawing the same from said movable guideway.

15. In a device or the class described 1nc1uding a fixed guideway and amovable guideway normally urged toward the former, means for feeding aspring unit along said fixed and movable guideways, together withcutting and forming means arranged for vertical movement between saidfixed and movable guideways and adapted to Adescend for the purpose ofsevering said spring unit into desired lengths and to form loops on thesevered ends of said spring lengths, the combination of means on saidmovable guideway for gripping said length of spring unit to hold thelatter during the cutting and forming operation aforesaid, said meansincluding a guide formation on said movable guideway, a movable jawarranged to reciprocate in said guide formation toward and away from thespring unit, means on said cutting and forming means for releasablyholding said movable jaw in raised position and for releasing saidmovable jaw when the cutting and forming kmeans is operated asaforesaid, coupling means operatively connected tosaid cutting andforming means and adapted to couple said gripping means with saidcutting and form- 'ing means whenv the latter is returned to a normalposition, and means frictionally engaging said severed spring unit forwithdrawing the same from said movable guideway.

CARL G. HICKS.

